Road building apparatus



May 5, M31. J. w. HELTZEL ROAD BUILDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1928 Patented May 1931 JOSEPH WILLIAM HELTZEL, OF WARREIE OHIO norm BUILDING Arrmws Application filed February 24, 1928. serial No. 25 ,729.

The present invention relates to road building apparatus andmachmes, and aims toprovide novel and improved apparatus for building concrete roads and similar surfacing structures with longitudinal joints therein.

It is also an object of the invent on to provide simple and practical apparatus for convenientl building concrete roadswith longitudinal oints or weakened lines, in order that the roa will break or fracture along said joint or line, instead of de'v'eloplng irregular.

breaks such as occur when the breaks are permitted to develop at random.

Another object is the provision of means to be trailed from a concrete mixer to facilitate the production of the longitudinal joint or weakened line as the concrete is deposited on the sub-base and finished.

With the foregoing and other ob ects 1n view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being under stood that. changes can be made withm the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sections corresponding with Fig. 2 illustrating mod1- cations.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a carriage or bridge composed of the frame 10 mounted on wheels 11 which are 5 thereof in order that the road may be built and finished within the frame.

The carriage is trailed from the concrete mixer 14, by 'means of cables 13 orother members connecting the carriage and mixer,

: so that the mixer being advanced will pull the carriage with it as the building of the road progresses} The concrete mixer 14:, which is preferably of the tractor type, has 'a boom 15 extending rearwardly over the frame 10, and from which is suspended a movable bucket 16 that receives the mixture from the mixer and deposits same on the sub-base in the well known manner. The boom 15 may be swung laterally of the road and the bucket 16 moves along the boom to deposit the batches of plastic concrete at the desired points on the sub-base. 1n the arrangement herein disclosed the bucket 16 deposits the material within the frame 10.

The frame 10 carries means for producing a longitudinal joint in the road as the road is built. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, such means comprises a pair of longitudinal plates 1'? between which a joint plate or strip 18' is dlsposed to be embedded in the concrete. As shown, the plates 17 and 18 are provided between their upper and lower edges with the portions 19 offset toward one side, for producing a tongue and groove joint between the slabs at the opposite sides of the joint. The joint member 18 may be a continuous strip of paper or other flexible material passmg rearwardly between the plates 17, or the joint material may constitute strips or sections of metal or other suitable material of suitable length disposed end to end.

The plates 17 are supported from the frame 10 and are capable of being separated, for depositing joint strips or plates between them. Thus, the plates 17 have upstanding lugs 20 at their ends secured to depending arms 21 pivotally connectedwith the frame 10 at the opposite ends thereof. One arm 21 of each pair has a hand lever 22 for conveniently swinging said arms. As shown in Fig. 2, the arms 21 of each pair are geared together, as at23, and any suitable means may be provided for locking the arms 21 with the plates 17 disposed together.

When building the road the concrete is dumped from the bucket 16 on opposite sides of the plates 17 and the concrete may be screeded or struck-01f, tamped and otherwise finished in the usual manner. As shown in Fig. 1, a screed or strike-oft 24, or finishing belt, may be used on the surface of the concrete over the plates 17 and 18, so that the road may be built and finished within the outline of the frame 10. As the building of the road progresses the mixer 14 and frame 10 are moved forwardly, and the plate or strip 18 remains stationary, so that the plates 17 are withdrawn from the finished portion of the road, leaving the plate or strip 18 embedded therein. When the frame 10 has been moved forwardly, the lates 17 may be separated for depositing the next plate or strip in place, and the sections or plates may be coupled together, if desired, to prevent them from being drawn forwardly with the frame 10. When the concrete has been finished within the outline of the frame 10 to a oint near the forward end of the frame, the flame is moved forwardly, and to enable the strip or plate 18 to remain stationary, the plates 17 may be separated slightly prior to such forward movement. The separation of the plates 17 will also permit the next strip or plate 18 to be readily inserted longitudinally rearwardly between the plates 17. The plates 17 may then be moved together to clamp the strips or plates 18 between them, and the pouring and finishing of the concrete may be resumed. It is also possible, when the frame has been moved forwardly tobring the rear ends of the plates 17 adjacent to the unfinished portion of the concrete, to separate said plates 17 so thatthe joint strip may be de osited downwardly between the plates 17, ager which the lates ma be moved together for the pouring and ishing of the concrete.

Fig. 3 illustrates a divider plate 18a supported by the arms 21, for dividing the concrete as the road is built over said plate, and when the frame 10 moves forwardly, the plastic concrete may come together in rear of said plate. However, the bond or union is weakened, because the stones or coarser aggregate are separated along the 'line of the plate 18a, thereby producin a weakened line, so that the road will brea along such line. Thus, instead of depositing a strip or plate 18 in the road, as shown in Fig. 1, a weakened line may be produced in the road, so that the longitudinal fracture or break will follow such line.

Fig. 4 illustrates a form 18b of V-shaped I cross-section disposed between plates 17 b suspended from the arms 21. The form 18?) is of sheet metal and is com osed of sections disposed end to end, said orms remaining crete. After the concrete has set the bars 256 may be removed, which permits the forms 18b to be removed, which is facilitated by springing the sides of theforms together. This provides a groove along the center line of the road, which may be filled by asphalt, bitumen or other composition, and the groove will also cause the concrete to break below the groove.

Fig. 5 illustrates a plate 180 carried by the arms 21 for producing groove in the road, said plate being withdrawn from the finished road as the frame 10 moves forwardly, but the groove may be filled with sand, asphalt, or other material immediately behind the plate 180 as it moves forwardly.

Fig. 6 illustrates a plate 18d having longitudinal corrugations, and depicting one of various forms of plates that may be used for "this purpose.

' With the construction shown in Fi s. 1 and.

2, it is also ossible to ace the p ates 17 apart and to 11 the space tween them with asphalt or other plastlc material, so that such material will provide'a joint between the opposite halves or slabs of the road.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as news is 1. A frame movable on the side forms of a concrete road under construction, said frame being open for the depositing and finishing of concrete within the outline of the frame, and a pair of spaced longitudinal plates supported fromsaid frame to receive a joint stri or material between them and their up r e ges being arranged to be substantially ush with the finished surface of the concrete, the space between said plates being open at the upper edges of said plates.

2. A frame movable on the side forms of a concrete road under construction, a pair of spaced longitudinal plates moveable with the frame for keeping the concrete separated, and means supportinsaid lates from the frame for a movement 0 the p ates toward and away from one another. a

3. A frame movable on the side forms of a concrete road under construction, said frame being open for the depositing and finishing of concrete within the outline of the frame, a pair of spaced longitudinal plates for keeping the concrete separated while it is being deposited and finished, and means for sup- .p'orting the ends of said plates from the frame for ad usting said plates toward and away from one another.

4. A frame movable over the sub-base of a concrete road under construction, a pair .of joint installing plates, and means adjustably supporting said plates from the frame for the movement 'of the plates toward and away from one another.

' 5. A frame movable on the side forms of a concrete road under construction, said frame being open for the depositing and finishing of concrete within the outline of the frame,

relatively to one another.

neceee'i and e pair of spaced longitudinal plates supported at their. ends from the frame to re ceive a joint strip or materiel between them and their upper edges being arrengetl to he substantially flush with the finished. surface of the concrete, the space between said plates being open at the upper edges of seiol plates. 6. Aframe movable over the sub-base of a concrete roadi under construction, and joint signature.

JUSEPH WILL mn'rn, 

